Waste disposer and can washer



Feb. 25, 1964 CHAMBERS 3,122,151

WASTE DISPOSER AND CAN WASHER Filed Aug. 19, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH hi. CHQMBEES 4 1W W M ATTOQNEVS Feb. 25, 1964 w, CHAMBERS 3,122,151

' WASTE DISPOSER AND CAN WASHER Filedlug. 19, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTQ RH EV S Feb. 25, 1964 J. w. CHAMBERS 3,122,151

WASTE DISPOSER AND CAN WASHER Filed Aug. 19, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 9o JOSEPH C HAMBERS ATTOIZN EVS United States Patent 3,122,151 WASTE DISPGSER AND CAN WASHER Joseph W. Chambers, Gardena, Calif, assignor to Atomic Disposer Corp, Compton, Calif, a corporation of California Filed Aug. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 362,811 19 Claims. (Cl. 134-99) This invention relates to can washer for washing, sterilizing and sanitizing refuse cans, milk cans, and the like, and is particularly concerned with a refuse or garbage can washer having a food waste disposer plumbed into the drain of the washer for the rapid disposal of food waste discharged from the can, and embodying means for providing complete Washing of the can surfaces, both inside and out, in a single operation.

In hospitals, sanitarium, state and federal institutions, schools, hotels, restaurants, and the like, where there is a large and rapid accumulation of garbage and refuse, it is necessary to remove such waste at frequent intervals in order to maintain clean and sanitary conditions.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a device for the easy and rapid removal of food waste stored in cans, and for the eflicient, thorough cleaning of such cans directly following discharge of such waste from the cans, employing a minimum amount of time and labor.

Another object is the provision of a device having means for simultaneously washing the inside and outside of cans, particularly cans used for storing food waste or garbage.

Other and particular objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

The invention device is generally in the form of a cabinet having a door and means to receive a can containing refuse or food waste, to permit overturning said can and discharge of its contents into the bottom of the cabinet, and to support and maintain said can in an inverted position for washing the can. The bottom of the washer cabinet is provided with an opening communicating with a hopper, which is preferably upwardly flared, the bottom of the cabinet being properly sloped and designed to facilitate movement of refuse discharge from the can along the cabinet bottom and into the hopper, for feeding therefrom into a waste disposer mounted for communication with the lower converging end of the hopper. The Washer is provided with a series of nozzles, preferably positioned along the front of the washer adjacent to the door, such nozzles being designed so as to discharge streams of water along and substantially parallel to the sloping bottom of the washer and toward the hopper, to facilitate Washing the waste discharged from the can into the hopper for feeding into the disposer.

Additional nozzle means is provided and positioned adj acent the bottom of the washer, such nozzle means preferably being rotatable and designed for reactive rotation by the water passing therethrough. Such nozzle means is so located with respect to the open inverted end of the can being processed, as to discharge water into the can and to wash the entire inside surface of the can, including the extreme upper corners and the upper closed end of the inverted can.

Still another nozzle means is provided at the upper end of the washer and preferably centrally located therein. Such nozzle means, according to a preferred embodiment, comprises an elongated horizontal arm suspended from a suitable central mounting and rotatable thereon, said arm having a fluid passage therein. Water introduced into the center of the arm is conducted through the passages therein outwardly to discharge openings at the opposite outer ends of such arm. The discharge nozzles at said opposite ends of the arm are positioned so as to cause the nozzle arm to rotate due to the reaction of the 'ice water discharged from such nozzles, and during such rotation to completely wash the outside surface of the can. Such washing of the outside of the can preferably is made to occur simultaneously with washing of the inside of the can, as previously described.

The interior of the can washer cabinet is also provided with a steam nozzle adjacent the bottom and so positioned as to discharge steam into the inverted opening end of the can, as desired for thorough cleaning and sterilization thereof. The top of the can washer is provided with an opening to provide communication of the interior of the can washer with the atmosphere during the washing operation, so as to insure etficient operation of the can washing nozzle means described above. Such opening at the top of the washer has a baffie means associated therewith which is particularly designed to prevent direct discharge of hot water droplets and steam from the interior of the washer into the atmosphere around the can washer.

The invention Wil be more clearly understood by reference to the description below a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the Waste disposer and can washer of the invention, with the door open and portions broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a section in elevation of the Washer taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bottom of the disposer and washer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3 and showing the details of one of the Washing nozzles at the bottom portion of the washer, designed to wash Waste along the bottom and into the discharge opening;

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 55' of FIG. 1, showing the battle arrangement adjacent the vent opening at the top of the Washer;

FIG. 6 is a plan view taken on line 65 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the rotating nozzle means positioned at the bottom of the can washer for spraying and washing the inside of a can;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the nozzle means of FIG. 7, taken on line S8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section showing the sloping configuration of the bottom of the washer from the front to the rear thereof, and taken on line 99 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a detail showing the structure of the rotatable nozzle means at the top of the washer.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the combination Waste disposer and can washer of the invention is in the form of a cabinet indicated by numeral 10, having a door 12 at the front of the cabinet which is hinged at 13 to the side of the cabinet, and supported on four legs 14 connected in a suitable manner, as by Welding, to the bottom 18 of the cabinet. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a gasket or seal 15 is positioned in a recess 17 around the door opening 19, to render the interior of the cabinet substantially waterand steam-tight when the door is closed.

The rear portion of the can Washer cabinet 10 is hemispherically shaped, as indicated at 16, to conform to the round or circular shape of the usual refuse or garbage can, indicated at 47 in FIGS. 2 and 3, which is designed to be emptied and washed according to the invention, as will be described more fully hereinafter. T he hemispherical shape of the rear portion 16 of the cabinet facilitates the placement of the can in the cabinet of the can washer and also the handling of the can for removal thereof. The bottom 18 of the cabinet slopes downwardly from the outer edges toward the center portion of the bottom, and a hole 20 of relatively large size is provided in the bottom 18 of the cabinet, the hole being displaced or olfset somewhat toward the rear of the bottom 18, as indi- ,cated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 9. The hole 20, although relatively large, is usually smaller than the diameter of the can which is placed in the can washer, as will be pointed out hereinafter.

It will be seen from FIGS. 1, 3 and 9 that the design of the sloping bottom 18 and the location of the hole 20 therein is such that the front portion 22 of the bottom of the cabinet forms a tray of smaller downward slope as compared to the slope of the rear portion 24 of the bottom. Tray 22 functions to receive waste and garbage directly discharged from a can which is initially up-ended at the forward end of the cabinet during placement of the can containing the refuse into the can Washer cabinet, as described in greater detail below.

The hole 20 in the bottom of the can washer cabinet communicates with a hopper 26 suspended from the bottom 18 of the cabinet. The hopper is flared upwardly, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, to facilitate receipt of the waste from the hole 26 into the upper portion of the hop per and movement thereof by gravity downward into the convergent lower end of the hopper. Hopper 265 is provided with a flange 28 around its upper end, said flange being bolted at 3% to the sloping bottom of the cabinet adjacent the periphery of hole 24 A waste or garbage disposer of conventional design, represented by numeral 32, and having the usual cutter element not shown, is connected to the lower end of hopper 26 for receipt of waste from the lower end of the hopper and the grinding and disposal of such waste, together with water, through a drain 33. T he disposer 32 is supported on the floor by means of the jackscrews 34.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a track element in the form of a U-shaped bar 35 is positioned on the bottom 18 of the cabinet for properly positioning and supporting an inverted can 47 in the cabinet, as shown in FIG. 2 and described more fully below. The base portion 39 of the U-shaped bar rests closely adjacent to the front wall 45 of the cabinet just below the door opening; and the legs 37 of the U-shaped bar are of a length such that, when the bar is placed on the bottom of the cabinet and is properly centered with the base portion 39 against the front wall 45, the outer ends oflegs 37 just abut the inside surface of the hemispherical periphery of the rear portion 16 of the cabinet, as best seen in FIG. 3. Mounted on each of the legs 37 of bar 35 is an adjustable stop 41 which can be tightened in a selected position along the respective legs by means of a tightening nut 43. It will be seen that the bar 35 forming the support for a waste can in the cabinet is practically self-centering at the bottom of the cabinet. It will also be noted that the distance beween the legs 37 of bar 35 is such that each of the legs is positioned beyond or is oifset from the bottom hole 26 in the cabinet, so that when an inverted can, indicated by phantom lines 47 in FIG. 3, is positioned on the legs or tracks 37 of the bar, such legs support the can at opposite sides of the can near its outer periphery, and there is substantially no interference by such legs with food waste or garbage which is discharged from the can onto tray 22, and also such legs 37 permit practically no interference with the washing of the inside of the can, as described below.

Positioned just above the bottom 18 of the cabinet at the front thereof, adjacent the door, is a series, indicated as 3 in number in the drawing (see FIG. 3) of fixed spray nozzles 36. These nozzles are each connected to a common Water line 38 below the bottom of the cabinet by means of a fitting 443 (see FIG. 4). Each of the nozzle heads 36 is fixed in position by means of a threaded lock nut 44 which is tightened against a spring washer 42 abutting the bottom of tray 22, forming the front portion of the bottom 13 of the cabinet. The spray nozzles 36 are each designed with an arcuately shaped spray slot 46, the slot being positioned in a plane substantially parallel to the sloping tray 22. In FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the spray nozzles 36 are mounted alongside and closely adjacent to the base 39 on the U-shaped supporting bar 35, and that all of the nozzles 36 are located between the legs 39 of such U-shaped bar, and hence the bar 35 provides substantially no interference to the operation of nozzles 36.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8, a rotatable water nozzle 48 is positioned just above the bottom 18 of the cabinet adjacent the periphery of the hole 25 the nozzle 43 being positioned about midway between the front and rear of the cabinet and closely adjacent one of t e legs 37 of the U-shaped bar 35. The axis of ro ation of the nozzle 48 is perpendicular to the plane of the sloping bottom 18, as best seen in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the nozzle 48 comprises a central 11oz zle head 50, and a pair of diametrically positioned, outwardly extending arms 52 are threaded, as at 53, into diametrically opposite portions of the nozzle head 50. Arms 52 have water passages 54 therein communicating with the interior of the spray head 50, such passages having discharge openings 56 at the outer ends of the arms. One of such outer discharge passages 56 at the end of one arm 52 faces in a direction opposite to the other discharge passage 56 in the other arm 52, as best seen in FIG. 8, in order to cause a reactive force or moment, producing rotation of the nozzle 43, as a result of the flow of water through the discharge passages 5.6.

The nozzle head 59 carries a depending integral sleeve 58 on which is rotatably mounted a bushing 60 in the form of an externally threaded nut. The threaded bushing 60 is maintained in rotatable position on the sleeve 58 by a lock spring 62 mounted in a groove 64 on the lower outer surface of the sleeve 58. The threaded bushing 60 is threaded through the floor 18 of the cabinet and into an internally threaded fitting 65, the upper end of which abuts a washer 67 to hold the assembly in tight, fixed, supporting engagement on the cabinet floor 18. The fitting 66 is connected to a Water line 68 (see FIG. 1).

Again referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the nozzle head 50 V is provided with a diametric slot 70 at the upper end thereof, the sides 72 of such slot having an arcuate shape,

said arcs having a relatively large radius and being concavely closely disposed opposite each other. The arcuate sides of the slot 79 are beveled or chamfered outwardly as indicated at 74. The nozzle 48 is designed in the abovedescribed manner so that, as the nozzle rotates, water discharges outwardly from the opposite diametric ends of the slot 70, and also outwardly from the beveled arcuate sides 72 of the slot in streams indicated at 76 in FIG. 2,

forming a fan-shaped pattern such that these streams will strike the entire inner surface of an inverted can 47, in-

cluding the sides and inverted bottom of the can and the; upper corners thereof farthest from the nozzle 48.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 10, a revolving spray arm 78 is mounted in the top 79 of the cabinet 10, substantially at the center thereof. An elbow 89, connected to a water feed line 94, carries a flange. 81 which is bolted at 83 to the top of the cabinet. Threaded into the lower outlet of the elbow is a fitting 62, comprising a central distributor head 86 and carrying at its upper end a sleeve 84. An externally threaded bushing 87 is mounted for rotation on sleeve 84 of fitting 82, and is retained on sleeve 84 by a lock ring 89 positioned in a groove 91 in the upper end of sleeve 84. Bushing 87 threadably engages elbow 80. Threaded into diametrically opposite sides of the distributor 36 are a pair of arms 88, having fluid passages 89 therein communicating with the interior of the distributor 86. The outer ends of the arms 88 are bent as indicated at 90, such bent por-.

tions extending downwardly in opposite directions and each containing a fluid discharge opening 92. It will be seen in FIG. 2 that the arms 88 of the spray member 78 extend a substantial distance outwardly toward the opposite side walls of the cabinet so that the spray streams 96 issuing from the nozzle discharge openings 92, at the ends of the spray arms, will wash down the outer surfaces of a waste can 47 disposed in up-ended position in the cabinet. As cleaning water passes through the nozzle arms 88, and out the discharge openings 92, the reactive force of the issuing water streams will produce a moment causing rotation of the arms 88, to thereby cause complete washing of the entire outer peripheral surface of the can.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is mounted on the bottom 18 of the cabinet a conventional steam nozzle 97, such steam nozzle being positioned adjacent the periphery of opening 20 and also closely adjacent to the rotating water nozzle 48. The steam nozzle is connected to a steam line 99. As in the case of the rotating nozzle 48, steam nozzle 97 is positioned so as to discharge steam into the waste can 47 being processed via the bottom opening 47' thereof, in an outwardly expanding pattern, as indicated in dotted lines 1131 in FIG. 2.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, there is provided in the top of the cabinet toward the rear thereof a vent hole 98, to maintain the pressure within the cabinet at approximately atmospheric pressure during the operation of the disposer 32 for grinding the waste, and spray nozzles 36, and also during the can washing operation, so as to insure eihcient operation of the nozzles 48 and 78.

in order to prevent discharge of water spray and steam from the interior of the cabinet to the exterior through the vent hole 98, a baille plate 1%2 is positioned directly below the hole 98 and spaced therefrom. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bathe 192 is preferably in the form of a circular plate having a diameter larger than the diameter of the vent hole 98, the plate being connected to the top of the cabinet 16 by means of spacers 104. Due to the outer peripheral portion 195 of the plate 102, which eX- tends beyond the periphery of the hole 98, it will be seen that the passages 1th: between such outer peripheral plate portion 1% and the adjacent area of the top of the cabinet provide communication between the interior of the cabinet and the exterior thereof via hole 98, but member 105 provides a barrier against direct discharge of water spray and steam from the interior below plate 102 to the exterior above hole 93.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, for operation of the device of the invention an electrical supply line indicated at 197 is connected to a junction box 199 from which an electrical conduit 111 is provided for operation of the disposer or grinding unit 32, and an electrical conduit 113 is provided for operation of a solenoid valve 114 in a cold-water line 11%. A switch box 163, connected to the junction box 169 via electrical conduits 110, selectively controls the simultaneous operation of the disposer unit 32 and the solenoid vdve 114 via the electrical connections 111 and 113, respect'vely.

A cold-water inlet 118 is connected to line 116 and also to a selector valve 120, and a hot-water inlet 122 is connected to the selector valve 129. The cold-water line 116 passes downwardly through a front corner of the cabinet, and is connected to the water line 38 for feeding cold water to the spray nozzles 36. A hot-water outlet line 124 from the selector valve 12%) passes downwardly through the front corner of the cabinet adjacent line 116, and is connected to the line 68 which feeds the rotatable nozzle 48, and is also connected to the hot-water line 94 for feeding water to the rotatable nozzle 78 at the top of the cabinet. A valve 126 is provided in line 124. Steam line 99, which feeds the steam nozzle 97, extends upwardly within a corner of the cabinet adjacent lines 116 and 124, to the top of the cabinet, and is provided with a steam connection 123 to a source of steam (not shown).

In operation, a Waste can 47, filled with waste or refuse and usually of a type having downwardly tapered walls, as indicated in FIG. 2, is placed adjacent the opening of the cabinet shown in FIG. 1, with the door open as shown therein. The operator then tilts the can toward the cabinet, placing the upper edge of the can 47 along the lower front edge of the cabinet, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 1. With the upper side wall of the can 47 supported on the front edge of the cabinet as a fulcrum, the operator then lifts the bottom of the can up and turns the can upside down at the front end of the cabinet. During this initial stage of upending the can in the cabinet, the food waste discharges from the can onto the forward or tray pontion 22 of the bottom of the cabinet. Due to the downwardly sloping design of the bottom 18 of the can washer, the refuse discharged on the bottom of the cabinet moves forward and downward by gravity along the tray portion 22 and down the other sloping side portion 24 of the bottom, toward and into the discharge opening 29, thence into the hopper 26; and from the bottom of the hopper, the waste enters the disposer unit 32.

When the can 47 has been up-ended, and is in the position shown in FIG. 2, it is now supported on the opposite rails 37 of the U-shaped support bar 35, as indicated in FIG. 3, with the rear portion of the can abutting the adjustable stops 41 on the rails, the can being slid rearwardly along the rails to the stops 41 after the can has been completely inverted. In this position on the rails 37, it will be noted that the can is supported above the bottom 18 of the cabinet (see FIG. 2) and is positioned with the opening 47 of the can disposed over the rotatable water nozzle 48 and over the steam nozzle 97 (see also FIG. 3).

After the can has been inverted and placed in the position supported on the tracks, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the door 12 of the cabinet is closed and locked in position by means of a suitable conventional latch shown at 134, and the handle 13% of the electrical switch 1&8 is operated to actuate the circuit to the disposer unit 32 and to the solenoid valve 114, simultaneously. Thus, as soon as the disposer 32 is placed in operation, the solenoid 114 is actuated to open the cold-water line 116 which communicates with the feed-line 38 to the nozzles 36, causing discharge of cold-water sprays indicated at dotted lines 132' in FIG. 3 from the arcuate slots 46 of spray nozzles 36. As previously indicated, these spray streams 132', issuing from the nozzles 36, sweep downwardly along the sloping surface of the front tray portion 22 of the bottom 18 of the cabinet toward the discharge hole 20-, washing the refuse and food waste deposited on the tray 22 and the bottom of the cabinet into the discharge opening and into the hopper and disposer unit, and at the same time furnishing the requisite water for operation of the disposer or grinding unit 32.

After all of the waste has been discharged from the can 47 and from the bottom 18 of the cabinet, into the disposer unit 32, the switch 108 is then actuated to shut off current to the disposer and to the solenoid 1-14, thereby stopping the disposer and closing the solenoid valve 114, thus interrupting flow of cold water to the spray nozzles 36. Valve 126 on the hot-water line 124 is then actuated to feed hot water via lines 124 and 68 to the rotatable spray nozzle 48, and via lines 124 and 94 to the upper rotating spray arm 7 8. Thus, spray nozzles 48 and 78 are actuated simultaneously, and, as previously pointed out, the hot- Water spray issuing from the lower rotatable spra nozzle 48 provides a spray pattern which reaches the entire inner surface of the can, as indicated in FIG. 2, spraying hot water into the uppermost reaches of the can, the water then flowing from the top of the can downwardly along the sides thereof. At the same time, the rotating spray arm 78 sprays the entire outer surface of the can, the water flowing down the outer side of the can.

As desired, either simultaneously with operation of the spray nozzles 48 and 78, or before or after actuation of such spray nozzles, steam valve 132 can be actuated to introduce steam via steam line 99 and the steam nozzle 97 into the interior of the can, as previously pointed out, to clean thoroughly and sterilize the entire inside surface of the can. After the can has been thoroughly cleaned, the valve 126 is actuated to shut oif the flow of hot water to the spray nozzles 48 and 78, and the steam valve 132 is closed to shut off the flow of steam to the steam nozzle 7 97. The door is then opened and the clean can removed from the interior of the cabinet.

It will be understood that the positioning of the respective nozzles 36, 48 and 78 can :be varied as desired, and the number of nozzles employed can be varied, without substantially changing the function of such nozzles as described above. Thus, for example, the specific location of hot water nozzle 43 and of steam nozzle 97 can be changed Without substantially altering their respective functions of thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the interior of the waste can, and a plurality of such nozzles 48 and 97 can be employed. Also, the number of cold water nozzles 36 can be varied, and, if desired, several nozzles of this type can be positioned also along the sides of the cabinet to aid in washing waste from the side portions 24 of the bottom of the cabinet down into the discharge opening 20.

While I have described particular embodiments of my invention for the purpose of illustration, it should be un derstood that various modifications and adaptations thereof may be made within the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination waste disposer and can washer which comprises a cabinet having an opening on one side adapted to permit introduction of a waste can into said cabinet, a door for said opening, a bottom which slopes from the sides of the cabinet downwardly toward the center of said bottom, a waste discharge hole in said bottom spaced from the sides of said cabinet, the sloping portion of said bottom between said door opening and said discharge hole forming a tray sloping downwardly to said discharge opening, means positioned adjacent the bottom of said cabinet and adapted to support a Waste can in the inverted position above said bottom over said discharge hole, a first spray means positioned in said cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof and adapted to discharge spray streams along said tray toward said discharge hole, a second, rotatable spray means in said cabinet adjacent said bottom and adapted to discharge spray streams upwardly into said cabinet above said discharge hole, and a third, rotatable spray means positioned in said cabinet adjacent the top of said cabinet and adapted to discharge spray streams downwardly about the periphery of said discharge hole, a discharge hopper depending from the bottom of said cabinet and communicating at its upper end with said discharge hole, and a waste disposer unit connected to the lower end of said hopper.

2. A combination waste disposer and can washer which comprises a cabinet having an opening on one side adapted to permit introduction of a waste can into said cabinet, a door for said opening, a bottom which slopes from the sides of the cabinet downwardly toward the center of said bottom, a waste discharge hole in said bottom spaced from the sides of said cabinet, the sloping portion of said bottom between said door opening and said discharge hole forming a tray for waste sloping downwardly to said discharge opening, spaced horizontal tracks supported on the bottom of said cabinet at locations adjacent to the outer periphery of said bottom, said tracks being otherwise spaced above said bottom and above said discharge hole therein and adapted to support a waste can in the inverted position, a first spray means positioned in said cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof and adapted to discharge spray streams along said tray toward said discharge hole, a second, rotatable spray means in said cabinet adjacent said bottom and adapted to discharge spray streams upwardly into said cabinet above said discharge hole, and a third, rotatable spray means positioned in said cabinet adjacent the top of said cabinet and adapted to discharge spray streams downwardly about the periphery of said discharge hole, a discharge hopper depending from the bottom of said cabinet and communicating at its upper end with said discharge hole, said hopper having an upwardly flared side wall, and a waste disposer unit connected to the lower convergent end of said hopper and adapted to receive waste from said hopper by gravity.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, including a vent opening in the top of said cabinet, bathe means positioned directly below said vent opening, and means supporting said bafile plate in vertically spaced relation to said vent opening and to the top of said cabinet.

4. A combination waste disposer and can washer which comprises a cabinet having an opening on one side adapted to permit introduction of a waste can into said cabinet, a door for said opening, a bottom which slopes from the sides of the cabinet downwardly toward the center of said bottom, a waste discharge hole in said bottom spaced from the sides of said cabinet, the sloping portion of said bottom between said door opening and said discharge hole forming a tray for waste sloping downwardly to said discharge opening, spaced horizontal tracks supported on the bottom of said cabinet at locations adjacent the outer periphery of said bottom, said tracks being otherwise spaced above said bottom and above said discharge hole therein and adapted to support a waste can in the inverted position, a plurality of first spray nozzles positioned in said cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof, said first nozzles being located adjacent the outer upper periphery of said tray adjacent said door opening, said nozzles each having an arcuate opening disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said tray and directed toward the rear of said cabinet, said spray nozzles adapted to discharge spray streams along and closely adjacent to the plane of said tray in the direction of said discharge hole, a second, rotatable nozzle in said cabinet, said second nozzle being positioned adjacent said bottom of the cabinet and adjacent to the periphery of said discharge hole, said second nozzle having a discharge opening at the top thereof and adapted to discharge spray streams into the zone of said cabinet above said discharge hole, and a third, rotatable spray mem er in said cabinet positioned adjacent the top of said cabinet, said spray member comprising a rotatable spray arm and a discharge opening at each end of said spray arm, and adapted to discharge spray streams downwardly about the periphery of said discharge hole, a discharge hopper depending from the bottom of said cabinet and communicating at its upper end with said discharge hole, said hopper having an upwardly flared side wall, and a waste disposer unit connected to the lower convergent end of said hopper and adapted to receive waste from said hopper by gravity.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, including a vent opening in the top of said cabinet, and a bafile plate positioned directly below said vent opening, said bafiie plate having a peripheral area extending beyond the periphery of said vent opening, and spacer means connected to said bafile plate and to the top of said cabinet to support said bafile plate in vertically spaced relation to said vent opening and to the top of said cabinet.

6. A combination waste disposer and can washer as defined in claim 4, wherein said tracks for supporting a waste can comprise a U-shaped bar, the legs of said U-shaped bar forming said tracks, the bottom of said U-shaped bar being supported on said bottom of said cabinet along the front wall thereof adjacent to said door opening, the outer ends of said legs being supported on the bottom of said cabinet adjacent the rear wall of said cabinet.

7. A combination waste disposer and can washer as defined in claim 6, wherein the rear wall of said cabinet is hemispherically shaped, said U-shaped bar being substantially self-centered in said cabinet with the legs of said U-shaped bar in contact with said rear wall, and including adjustable stops on each of said legs forming said can supporting tracks.

8. A combination waste disposer and can washer as defined in claim 1, including a steam nozzle positioned adjacent said bottom of the cabinet and adjacent to the periphery of said discharge hole, said steam nozzle being directed upwardly and adapted to discharge steam into the zone of said cabinet above said discharge hole.

9. A combination waste disposer and can washer as defined in claim 4, including a steam nozzle positioned adjacent said bottom of the cabinet and adjacent to the periphery of said discharge hole, said steam nozzle being directed upwardly and adapted to discharge steam into the zone of said cabinet above said discharge hole.

10. A combination waste disposer and can washer as defined in claim 1, wherein said discharge hole is offset toward the rear of said cabinet, said tray having a downward slope from the front wall of said cabinet to said discharge hole, less than the downward slope of the remaining portion of the bottom of said cabinet, from the side walls and rear wall thereof to said discharge hole.

11. A waste disposer and can washer as defined in claim 4, said second, rotatable nozzle having a central portion and a discharge opening in the form of a diametric slot in the upper face of the central portion of the nozzle, the opposite walls of said slot each being arcuately shaped and concavely positioned opposite each other, the arouate walls of said slot being beveled to flare outwardly toward the upper face of said nozzle, said nozzle having a pair of arms extending outwardly in opposite directions from said central portion, fluid passages in said arms, and a discharge opening at each end of said arms, said discharge openings being disposed in opposite directions, so as to cause rotation of said second nozzle by reaction of the water discharged from said last mentioned discharge openings.

12. A combination waste disposer and can washer as defined in claim 4, said third, rotatable spray member connected to the top of said cabinet, and including a central distributor, said arm extending outwardly in opposite directions from said distributor, the ends of said arm being bent in opposite directions, said discharge openings at each end of said spray arm being located at the ends of said bent portions and disposed in opposite directions, so as to cause rotation of said spray member by reaction of the water discharged from said last-mentioned discharge openings.

13. A waste disposer and can washer as defined in claim 4, said second, rotatable nozzle having a central portion and a discharge opening in the form of a diametric slot in the upper face of the central portion of the nozzle, the opposite walls of said slot each being arcuately shaped and concavely positioned opposite each other, the arcuate walls of said slot being beveled to flare outwardly toward the upper face of said nozzle, said nozzle having a pair of arms extending outwardly in opposite directions from said central portion, fluid passages in said arms, and a discharge opening at each end of said arms, said discharge openings being disposed in opposite directions, so as to cause rotation of said second nozzle by reaction of the water discharged from said last mentioned discharge openings, said third, rotatable spray' member connected to the top of said cabinet, and including a central distributor, said arm extending outwardly in opposite directions from said distributor, the ends of said arm being bent in opposite directions, said discharge openings at each end of said spray arm being located at the ends of said bent portions and disposed in opposite directions, so as to cause rotation of said spray member by reaction of the water discharged from said last-mentioned discharge openings.

14. A combination waste disposer and can washer as defined in claim 1, including a first Water line connected to said first spray means, valve means in said first line, means for actuating said valve means to permit operation of said first spray means, means causing operation of said waste disposer unit when said valve means is actuated to operate said first spray means, a second water line connecting said second, rotatable spray means and said third, rotatable spray means, and valve means in said second water line permitting simultaneous operation of said second and third spray means when said lastmentioned valve means is actuated.

15. A waste disposer and can washer as defined in claim 4, including a first water line connected to said first spray nozzles, valve means in said first line, means for actuating said valve means to permit operation of said first spray nozzles, means associated with said valve means and causing operation of said waste disposer unit when said valve means is actuated to operate said first spray nozzles, a second water line connecting said second, rotatable nozzle and said third rotatable spray member, and valve means in said second water line permitting simultaneous operation of said second rotatable nozzle and third, rotatable spray member when said last-mentioned valve means is actuated.

16. Apparatus for washing waste cans which comprises a cabinet having an opening on one side adapted to permit introduction of a waste can into said cabinet, a door for said opening, a bottom which slopes from the sides of the cabinet downwardly toward the center of said bottom, a waste and water discharge hole in said bottom, spaced from the sides of said cabinet, means positioned adjacent the bottom of said cabinet and adapted to support a waste can in the inverted position above said bottom over said discharge hole, a first spray means positioned in said cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof and adapted to discharge spray streams along said bottom toward said discharge hole, a second, rotatable spray means in said cabinet adjacent said bottom and adapted to discharge spray streams upwardly into said cabinet above said discharge hole, and a third, rotatable spray means positioned in said cabinet adjacent the top of said cabinet and adapted to discharge spray streams downwardly about the periphery of said discharge hole.

17. Apparatus for washing waste cans which comprises a cabinet having an opening on one side adapted to permit introduction of a waste can into said cabinet, a door for said opening, a bottom which slopes from the sides of the cabinet downwardly toward the center of said bottom, a waste and water discharge hole in said bottom, spaced from the sides of said cabinet, means positioned adjacent the bottom of said cabinet and adapted to support a waste can in the inverted position above said bottom over said discharge hole, a first spray means positioned in said cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof and adapted to discharge spray streams along said bottom toward said discharge hole, a second spray means in said cabinet adjacent said bottom and adapted to discharge spray streams upwardly into said cabinet above said discharge hole, and a third spray means positioned in said cabinet adjacent the top of said cabinet and adapted to discharge spray streams downwardly about the periphery of said discharge hole.

18, Apparatus as defined in claim 17, including a vent opening in the top of said cabinet, and a baffle plate positioned directly below said vent opening, said bafiie plate having a peripheral area extending beyond the periphery of said vent opening, and spacer means connected to said baffle plate and to the top of said cabinet to support said bafile plate in vertically spaced relation to said vent opening and the top of said cabinet.

19. A combination waste disposer and can washer which comprises a cabinet having an opening on one side adapted to permit introduction of a waste can into said cabinet, a door for said opening, a bottom which slopes from the sides of the cabinet downwardly toward the center of said bottom, a waste discharge hole in said bot tom spaced from the sides of said cabinet, the sloping portion of said bottom between said door opening and said discharge hole forming a tray sloping downwardly to said discharge opening, means positioned adjacent the bottom of said cabinet and adapted to support a waste can in the inverted position above said bottom over said discharge 1 1 12 hole, a first spray means positioned in said cabinet adjanicating at its upper end with said discharge hole, and a cent the bottom thereof and adapted to discharge spray waste disposer unit connected to the lower end of said streams along said tray toward said discharge hole, a sechopper. ond'spray means in said cabinet adjacent said bottom and adapted to discharge spray streams upwardly into said 5 References Cited In the file Of i Patent cabinet above said discharge hole, and a third spray means UNI D STATES PATENTS positioned in said cabinet adjacent the top of said cabinet and adapted to discharge spray streams downwardly about gig; gi d? the penphery of sand discharge hole, a discharge hopper 2,764,171 None Sept. 25, 1956 depending from the bottom of said cabinet and commu- 10 

17. APPARATUS FOR WASHING WASTE CANS WHICH COMPRISES A CABINET HAVING AN OPENING ON ONE SIDE ADAPTED TO PERMIT INTRODUCTION OF A WASTE CAN INTO SAID CABINET, A DOOR FOR SAID OPENING, A BOTTOM WHICH SLOPES FROM THE SIDES OF THE CABINET DOWNWARDLY TOWARD THE CENTER OF SAID BOTTOM, A WASTE AND WATER DISCHARGE HOLE IN SAID BOTTOM, SPACED FROM THE SIDES OF SAID CABINET, MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF SAID CABINET AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A WASTE CAN IN THE INVERTED POSITION ABOVE SAID BOTTOM OVER SAID DISCHARGE HOLE, A FIRST SPRAY MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID CABINET ADJACENT THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE SPRAY STREAMS ALONG SAID BOTTOM TOWARD SAID DISCHARGE HOLE, A SECOND SPRAY MEANS IN SAID CABINET ADJACENT SAID BOTTOM AND ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE SPRAY STREAMS UPWARDLY INTO SAID CABINET ABOVE SAID DISCHARGE HOLE, AND A THIRD SPRAY MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID CABINET ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID CABINET AND ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE SPRAY STREAMS DOWNWARDLY ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DISCHARGE HOLE. 